Planetary amusement ride

ABSTRACT

An amusement ride is described of duplex structure having a pair of main rotatable wheels or spiders which carry rotatable subwheels or spiders. The subwheels in turn carry passenger capsules or compartments. Two main arms which carry the main wheels are at obtuse angles to each other and are joined to form a rigid structure which is pivoted on a solid base for rocking in a vertical plane. The arms are rocked by cable and winch drum arrangement or by hydraulic piston mechanism. The main wheels or spiders are driven in rotation by hydraulic or electric motors; the subwheels can be rotated dependently or independently by the same or separate prime mover means. One set of wheels can be loaded and/or operated like a merry-go-round while the other set is high in the air analogous to a Ferris wheel.

United States Patent Robinson [73] Assignee: Le Roy A. Anderson,Scottsdale,

Ariz. a part interest [22] Filed; Feb. 5, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 8,925 IRelated US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No.720,756, April 12,

1968, abandoned.

[52] u.s. c|. ..272/36, 272/38- [51] Int. Cl ..A63g 1/08, A63g 27/04[58] Field of Search ..272/29, 36, 38, 49, 30, 6, 272/28, 37', 244/1723[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 900,820 10/1908 Becker..272/38 3,140,092 7/1964 l-lrubetz ..272/36 3,243,184 3/1966 Robinsonet a1... ..272/36 2,357,481 9/1944 Mallon ..272/36 UX 2,922,648 1/1960Bradley, Jr. ..272/36 753,197 2/1904 Gilman ....272/6 3,459,422 8/1969Winton 72/29 X [451 Dec.26,1972

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,268,352 6/1961 France ....272/38856,882 12/1960 GreatBritain.. ..272/36 Primary Examiner-Anton O.Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Arnold W. Kramer Attorney-Edwin M. Thomas[57] ABSTRACT solid base for rocking in a vertical-plane. The'arms arerocked by cable and winch drum arrangement or by hydraulic pistonmechanism. The main wheels or spiders are driven in rotation byhydraulic or electric motors; the subwheels can be rotated dependentlyor. independently by the same or separate prime mover means.- One set ofwheels can be loaded and/or operated like a merry-go-round whiletheother set is high in the air analogous to a Ferris wheel.

3 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PATENTED [15525 1972 3, 707. 28 2 sum 1 or6 INVENTOR RALPH G. IQOB/NSON A'ITHRNI'Y PATENTED DEC 2 6 I972 SHEET 80? 6 PATENTED DEC 26 I972 SHEEI 5 OF 6 PLANETARY AMUSEMENT RIDE Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 720,756,filed Apr. 12, 1968, and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART unloading or reloading and then moved step bystep to successive stopping positions; the next carriage then'is Thepresent invention includes several improvements over that described inU.S. Pat. No. 3,243,184. In one embodiment, fluid operated means areemployed and in another drum and cable means are used for raising andlowering the supporting arms and the respective main wheels fromhorizontal to vertical position and vice versa. Better control andsuperior leverage can be obtained with these means than with gearing, asin the patent. Also, simpler mountings'can parts are used for limitingand controlling the rates at grounded in tum, unloaded and reloaded, andmoved to the next position, etc. For a wheel with multiple carriagesor'passenger compartments, this means that as many stops and loading andunloading operations must be carried out as there are carriages orcompartments on the wheel. These operations involve a great deal ofstoppage time with patrons queuing up, etc., greatly decreasing theprofitability of such a ride particularly wherelarge crowds of peopleare available to be carried.-

It is known in the art to lift a loaded wheel off the ground, .as inWinton US. Pat. No. 3,459,422, and to tilt the wheel to non-horizontalpositions during rotation. As set forth in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,243,184,mentioned above, a ride of analogous type to the present invention hasbeen designed which has two angularly divergent main supporting arms,each carrying a simple main wheel or spider. Each wheel or spidercarries a plurality of suspended passenger compartments or capsules,each of which can contain a group of passengers. One wheel is high inthe air while the other is on or near the ground. A typical arrangementis to have eight to twelve capsules or carriages on each wheel;.eachcapsule can carry six to eight persons. While one wheel is beingunloaded and reloaded, the other can be up in the air and operating.Rotation of either wheel can be started while it is in horizontalposition at or just above the ground. This can more than double thecapacity of the device. The passengers are given an additional thrilland an exhilarating experience as the rotating wheels move fromhorizontal to vertical positions. It will be understood that the'termshorizontal and vertical as used here, are relative. True horizontal andvertical need not actually be used for the major operating periods insome cases. Normally, the lowered wheel stops rotating and is loaded ina horizontal position while resting on or just above a stanchion orplatform. There the patrons can get into and out of all the capsuleswith relative ease; all capsules on the down" wheel can be loaded orunloaded simultaneously. After reloading, the main arms. can be operatedto raise the newly loaded wheel to a more or less vertical position forrotation while the other wheel is lowered. Preferably, the wheel beginsrotation as it lifts; the plane of the wheel passes through variousangular posi-. tions until the vertical or high operating position isreached. The individual capsules are suspended from the wheel in such away that they hang freely in all wheel positions. The passengers thusare able to sit upright, regardless of the particular momentary positionof the wheel.

which the wheelscan be raised and lowered. Critical hydraulic lines areequipped with built-in safety mechanisms which cannot readily bedisabled and which are operative, even if there should be an operatingfailure in the hydraulic systemor of the controls which operate it.

One important aspect of the present invention is its arrangement ofwheels. within wheels; that is, subwheels are mounted on arms of a mainwheel or spider. With this arrangement a group of capsules is carried oneach subwheel and each subwheel may have its own individual motion, thusgiving a compound operation to the cycle. With this arrangement, thevarious capsules on the arms of the subwheels may appreach the ground,or seem to approach it, with very high rates of speed on the doubledescending side of the cycle, or they may appear tostand relativelystill in other portions of the cycle. At other times there will beacceleration or deceleration. There are thus exciting phases in thecycle which add greatly to the thrill of the ride without increasing itshazards. Where the latter system is used, the mechanism for rotating thesubwheels on the spokes of the main wheel or spider are relativelysimple, comprising either simple radially extending driven shaftsoperated from the power which rotates the main wheel around its own axisor by individual hydraulic motors taking motive power from the mainprime movers. Individual electrical motors may be used.

The system of the present invention, in one form, also involves use ofprogramming mechanism. By means of valves and fluid operated controldevices, this mechanism takes over the normal operation of theequipment. While one arm and its main wheel is operating in the high orvertical position, the other wheel is in loading position and is keptthere automatically until all its capsules are loaded and their doorsclosed. Only after the doors on the down wheel are finally closed, canthe operator start up this side of the mechanism. When he moves a switchto start the cycle, the programming mechanism takes over. Meanwhile, theother wheel can still be in operation with its passengers receivingmaximum ride for their money. Rotation of both wheels can take place inchanging planes during large part of the cycle.

For cable operation, a reversible winch, suitably power driven, is usedto wind up cable attached to one arm and to take up cable attached tothe other arm.

For hydraulic operation a plurality of pumps and main prime mover units,preferably electrically driven, are provided to pump the hydraulicfluid, thereby to raise and lower the respective arms from loading tooperating positions and vice versa. With two prime movers, one maybecome inoperative and the ap- Y paratus can still be operated in moreor less normal fashion. A pair of raising and lowering piston-cylinderunits are provided, one on each side of the axis or pivot axle on whichthe branched arm unit is mounted at its juncture. In normal operation apair of cylinders are attached on each side and the hydraulic linesserving them are so interconnected that the push-pull relation isappliedto both sets of operators. In this manner the arms may be raised andlowered with maximum speed, with minimum friction because distortion isminimized, and with complete safety because of the throttling deviceswhich restrict the flow of fluid from the operating cylinders. v

Eachprime mover also can drive a separate pump for operating a fluidmotor which rotates the appropriate wheel about its own axis. .Whethersuch axis is in horizontal or loading position, in upright normaloperating position, or in between, the fluid pump thus supplies thedriving fluid under pressure. Controls are arranged so that'either wheelcan be rotated or stopped from rotation at any desired point in thecycle. Nornially, one prime mover supplies power to rotate one wheel andthe other drives the other wheel, but interconnection makes it possibleto put either or both wheels in rotation under the drive of either primemover.

As an additional safety factor, a separate combustion engine drivenprime mover which drives a small hydraulic pump is included to operatethe main elevator pistons to raise or lower the equipment intoappropriate positions. Thus, in case of electric power failurepassengers may be safely brought to the ground and unloaded withoutdifficulty.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of oneform of the.

I the main hubs or spool of a main wheel, taken substantially on theline 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 4 and someparts associated therewith, taken substantially along line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side view of one of the capsules or carriages in whichpassengers ride, showing general structure and some supporting andlanding elements.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the outer end portion of one of the mainsupporting arms.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the arm of FIG. 7 on larger scale,taken substantiallyon the line 8-8 of said figure.

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line9-9 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is an end view of the outer tip of the arm as seen at the bottomouter end of FIG. 7

FIG. 11 is a detail sectional view of a suspension means takensubstantially along the line 1 1-11 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged detail, partly in section, of one of the landingshoes, shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 13 is a detailed structural view in section showing the manner inwhich the arms of a main wheel are attached to its hub.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view showing a pivotal I rocking arrangementfor swinging the main arm struc- DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTReferringfirst to FIG. 1, the apparatus comprisesa solid base structure11 having landing pads or-paved areas 13 and 15 on either side. Each padis equipped with a stanchion 21 comprised of a supporting ring 22 andupstanding posts 23 onbase 24. Each stanchion is adapted to support thecenter of a main wheel or spider 7 or 8, when in its lowered position. Adash-pot 20, preferably of hydraulic type, is mounted in each stanchionto absorb any shock when a main wheel makes contact. As seen in FIG. 1,the branded arm 4 support comprises two strong main arms 5 and 6fabricated of metal for adequate strength and hollow in cross-sectionfor reduced weight. These arms are angularly divergent and pivotallymounted at their juncture. Each arm carries a rotatable main wheel orspider 7, 8. Each wheel or spider carries two or more sub-wheels 9 andeach sub-wheel carries a plurality of capsules 10. Each capsule iscapable of carrying four or more, usually about six to eight passengers.

The base or arm support 4, of FIG. 1, is a strong composite hollowstructure. As shown in FIG. 14 it can be made up of outer plates 40, 41,42, etc., internally braced with corner members. Transverse and diagonalbracing members may be added to provide requisite strength. Where thetwo arm members 5 and 6 are joined, the parts include brackets or plates44, secured outside, as in FIG. 1, or inside as in FIG. 14. These areformed with or secured to bearing sleeves sized to receive a horizontalpivot shaft 45. The sleeves are mounted in fixed bearings 47 havingappropriate. brackets 48, 49 secured on topv of the base member 11 andsecurely fastened thereto so that wind storms or other strong forcescannot loosen or dislodge the machine from the base.

The embodiment of FIGS. 1, 1A, includes an operating cable 29 attachedto a swiveling block 30 at the hub of each main wheel 7 or .8. Cable 29passes under anchored pulleys 31. The latter are firmly secured to afoundation element near the center of each paved area 13 or 15. Frompulleys 31, the cable passes over a pair of guide pulleys 32 or 33, neareach stanchion 21.

These pulleys are supported firmly on shafts mounted in the walls ofcounterweight pits 34 or 35. Between each pair of guide pulleys thecable passes under a hanging pulley 36 mounted in an upstanding yokeconnected to a counterweight 37. The cable 29 passes under platforms 13and 15 and under guide pulleys 38 mounted in base 11. Thence it is wounda number of turns around a winch drum 39. The latter is equipped with aconventional drive motor and gear reduction box, and can be driven ineither direction. Clockwise right arm 6 while cable 29 is paid out tothe left, permitting arm to rise.

' The counterweights are of adequate size to keep the cable 29 tight atall times. They can rise orfall sufficiently to accommodate differencesin total cable path length as the arms are moved to various positions.They also keep the cable under sufficient tension that there is noloosening or slippage around the winch or drum 39.

The modification of FIG. 2 is operated by hydraulic mechanism. In FIGS.14, and 16, the apparatus for rocking the main arms to their respectiveraised and lowered position is shown in greater detail. On each side ofbase 11, FIG. 14, are a pair of hydraulic cylinders 50, 51 individuallymounted in trunnions 53. These trunnions are pivoted to the basestructure at 49. The base is channeled at 57 so that the pistons maypivotabout their trunnions as required to accommodate the connection oftheir outwardly, upwardly extending piston rods 59 to ears or brackets60, secured to the respective arms 40 and 42 which correspond to arms 6and 5 of FIG. 1.

A pair of cylinders is mounted on each side of pivot shaft 45 so thattwo piston rods 59 lift up on one of the arms while the other two pulldown on the opposite arm.

As explained further below, the pistons are arranged or paired inanother respect so that one of the pistons at the left, FIG. 14, and oneof those at the right, e.g. are operated simultaneously by a singleprimary pump or source of fluid pressure, as further explained below.The other cylinders are operated simultaneously but by separate fluidpump means driven by a separate prime mover. This arrangement is used inorder that failure of either prime mover'will not interrupt operation ofthe equipment. The equipment operates more easily when both pumps orprime movers are in normal operation, but it can be operated quitesatisfactorily by only one driver when necessary.

As in FIG. 1, the, main wheels'in FIG. 2 support and drive secondary orsubwheels or spiders. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the support arms 125 and 126,which are generally similar to arms 5 and 6 of FIG. 1, are pivoted on abase 111. These arms carry main wheels or spiders 127 and 128. Each ofthese is shown as having three radial arms, although, of course, it mayhave two or four, or a greater number if desired. Each arm 129 of a mainwheel carries at its outer end a sub-wheel or sub-spider 131, having aplurality of arms or spokes 132, each of which carries a capsule orcarriage 133. These capsules, as shown in FIG. 2, may be of a relativelysimple type carrying about four persons, or they may be the enclosedcage type shown at 10 in FIG. 1. See FIG. 6, also. The capsules orcarriers are constructed so as to hold the passengers safely, suitableretaining bars, not shown in detail, being provided.

Main wheels or spiders 127, 128 of FIGS. 2 and 3, are driven in rotationabout their axes by suitable fluid motor means e.g., hydraulic. In FIG.3, such a hydraulic motor is shown at 140; it drives speed-reducinggearing 142 which drives the main hub or spool 144 to which the severalarms 129 are attached. A large stationary ring gear 150 meshes withbevel gears 151 mounted on the inner ends of radially extendingrotatable shafts 153; these are appropriately journaled in hearings onor under the arms 129 At the outere'nds each of these rotatable shaftscarries a bevel gear 155 which drives an annular gear or rack 156attached to the hub 157 of the sub-wheel assembly 131. As fluid motor140 rotates a main wheel or spider, movement of bevel gears 151 aroundfixed gear 150 rotates the sub-wheels or spiders at an appropriate rate.Rotation rates may be selected by appropriate relationships between thevarious gearing elements. I

. Hydraulic lines 160, which supply driving fluid. to motor 140, are ledthrough main arms 125, 126, or under them, from hydraulic fluid pumpsources. These pumps may be mounted either in the base rocker portion165 of the arm, FIG. 2, or may be mounted in base 111 and. connected byappropriate flexible connections to accommodate rocking of the mainarms.

The arrangement is such that at least one main pump supplies drivingfluid under appropriate pressure to operate the piston-cylinderassemblies 181, 182, FIG. 2'. These correspond in general to thecylinders 50, 51 of FIG. 14. Simultaneously, the same or a differentprime mover supplies fluid for lines 160 which drive the main wheels inrotation. The interrelationship between these parts is describedhereinafter.

. Each ofthe main wheels 7, 8, FIG. 1, or 127, 128, FIGS. '2 and 3,isbuilt on a base hub or spool unit 74. The later is shown in detail inFIGS. 4 and 5. Each hub comprises an upper circular plate and a lowercircular plate 76. Vertical platemembers 77, 78, 79, and are welded orriveted between plates 75, 76, with suitable bracing such as anglemembers 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, FIG. 5. Plate 76 has a circular openingin which is mounted a suitably insulated slip ring to feed electriccurrent to the carriages or capsules for illumination and controlstherein. Spider arms 91, FIG. 1, are of hol- 2 low construction withappropriate internal bracing as in the construction of the main arms. Anouter terminal portion of an arm 91 is shown in FIG. 7. The constructionpreferred includes tubular corner members 100,

tubular member 109 mounted in bearings 112, 113

which are mounted in an outer sleeve member 114. A nut 115 keeps theparts in place and the sleeve is supported in the end plate and anothertransverse member 116. At its outer end the tubular member 109, which isin the shape of a'short angular bar, 117, supports a pair of clevises118 on pivot pins 119. A pair of short chains 120, suspended from theclevises, att'ach'to ears 121 of a post 122 projecting from the top ofthe capsule. A safety cable 123 is fastened to the post 122 and to themember 117 so that if a chain should break or become disconnected, thecable would still support the capsule safely. Appropriate flexible orslip-ringed electric lines, not shown, supply current to each capsulethrough the swivel arrangement.

Each capsule is made up as shown in FIG. 6, of a framework of maintubular members 225 curved to form the necessary enclosure and securedto a bottom plate member 226. This type of capsule is shown in FIG. 1 at10. Vertical bars 227, fitted in between the main frame members 225,complete the structure. A roof member 228 of light sheet material suchas fiber glass is supported on the upper'framework of the capsule. Aband 230 surrounds the upper parts of the bars. A door'232, hinged at233, has an appropriate latch 234 to hold it closed. Electric contactand control elements of conventional types, not shown, are provided tosignal when, the doors are closed and to prevent operation of theequipment if the doors are not properly closed.

With the mounting just described, the capsules are arranged to swingquite freely in the air. Thedual chain support prevents undue twisting,although the capsules always may rotate through small angles. The forceof gravity prevents excessive winding or twisting, of individualcapsules while they are suspended above ground. Curvature of the armspermits the capsules to swing clear in all positions of the main arms.

When a main arm is lowered. to bring passengers to the ground,thecentral hub member of a main wheel 7, 8, FIG. 1, or 127, 128, FIG. 2, isbrought to reston a stanchion 21, FIG. 1 or 121, FIG. 2. In thisposition the capsules are arranged to contact the ground throughresilient shoe elements 250, which act as'drags and shock absorbers. Asshown in FIG. 12, each drag consists of a flexible rubber tube 252 madeof reinforced rubber tubing,or the like, of such thickness and stiffnessas to flatten only part way when supporting the weight of the capsule30. Each tube 252 has a metal shoe element 254 clamped on the bottom bya bolt 25S extending through plate element 256 inside the tube. Eachdrag or shoe unit is attached by a bolt 257 to a tubular frame element264 at the bottom of the capsule. This bolt extends through an innerbracket 258, an outer bracket 259 and a rigid tube .element 260 andthrough tube clamping pieces 261 and 262. When a capsule or 31approaches the ground, usually swinging somewhat, these devices contactthe ground on one side or another and drag the carriage gently to astop. Further lowering of the capsule settles all the drag members 250on the ground, stably positioning the capsule for loading and unloading.

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper plate 75 of each hub 74 issecured to an inner race 270 of a large annular ball bearing assembly.Bolts 271 pass through the race and are secured to the angular elements83 inside the spool and bolts 272 secure the outer race member to aframe element 273 of a main arm. Secured inside the inner race is aninternal gear ring 275 which is driven by a spur gear 277 on the lowerend of a rotatable shaft 278. A large driven gear 279 is attached toshaft 278, the shaft being journaled in an upper plate 280 and a lowerbearing 281 secured to frame 273.

Gear 279 is driven by a spur gear 285 on the shaft 2860f a motor 287.The latter preferably is driven by hydraulic liquid from one of theprime mover pumps mentioned above. The connections to the hydraulicmotor are not shown in detail, being obvious to those skilled in theart. However, an electric motor may be used, as will be obvious. FIG. 17shows means by-which hydraulic fluid under appropriate pressure is'fedat appropriate flow rates to a motor ME, or MP}, equivalent to motor287, to rotate the gear 285. Thus the gearing described drivesthe spoolor hub 74 about its axis, which is vertical as seen in FIG. 5. Thedirection of this axis varies, of course, as the position of the mainsupporting arms changes.

The drive system of FIG. 17 and the programming system by which themechanism is operated through its various cycles will now be explained.The four cylinders'50 or 51 are indicated at 51 in FIG. 17. These rockthe main arm assembly about its pivot. Two of these are at the left andtwo at the right; see also FIGS. 14 and 15. Prime movers such aspowerful electric motors EM, and EM, each drive a pair of fluid pumps.Motor EM, is shown as driving pumps PV, and PV whereas motor EM; isshown as driving pumps PV and PV.,

Pump PV, supplies fluid through a heavy output line 301 to a piston 51Aready for retract movement and at the same time pumps fluid to extend apiston 51C on the other side of the pivot. The return lines from both ofthese cylinders contain restrictive orifices shown at 301A and 301C,respectively. These limit the speed at which the main arms can .move,even if one of the hydraulic lines should break or be inoperative.Similar orifices 301B and 301D are shown in the return lines from theother main operating cylinders.

A valve 303 is provided for cutting off the flow of fluid in line 301.Alternative connections may be used in some cases, as will be explainedlater.

In a typical operation, pump PV, forces fluid through the line toretract piston 51A and to extend piston 51C, thus pulling one main arm,such as 126, FIG. 2, downwardly and lifting the other arm 125. Fluidfrom the first cylinder. returns through the restrictive orifice 301Ainto return line 305, which passes through a control device 306 to theopposite side of the pump PV, At the same time driving fluid from 301 isled through line 308 to the bottom of the cylinder'operating piston 51Cand returns from operating piston 51C through line 307, which connectsto line 305.

The second prime mover EM, drives a pump PV whose output is fed througha control 315 and a line 312 assuming valve 311 in return line 310 isopen, to force outward the piston 510 while forcing inwardly the piston518. That is, fluid passes from pump l V through line 301 while PV,pumps through line 312. On reversal, liquid flows out of pump PV,through line 310 and flows out of pump PV, through line 305 andcontroller 306.

The motor EM in addition to providing operating power for two of thecylinders which raise and lower the main arms, also drives a second pumpPV, The latter supplies operating fluid through a line 320 to a fluidmotor MF which is motor 287 of FIG. 5, and rotates one of the mainwheels or spiders in the manner already described. Return fluid fromthis motor flows through line 322 to controller 323 and thence back intothe pump PV,

Similarly, motor EM, drives a pump PV, which supplies fluid through line330 to drive the motor MF,

"(like 287) in the other main wheel. The. fluid is returned through line331 under control of the controller device 333. From thence it returnsto the pump through line 335.

Cooling means to prevent overheating of the working fluid comprises apair of heat exchangers HE and l-IE,, shown at the bottom of FIG. 17. Bysuitable valving,

have their own electric motors, as they may have, the

same general types of control are provided. The mechanism by which thevarious parts are started and stopped, bypassed, etc., form no part ofthe present invention, but these involve programming control elements,shown diagrammatically only at 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, and 355. Thearrangement is such that, in or-' dinary operation, suitable hydrauliclines will be opened to flow theoperating fluid into the appropriatecylinders 51 or out of the, as the case may be. The large rocker armsare thus moved about their pivot 45 until one of the wheelsisinhorizontal or landing position with its carriages or capsules restingfirmly on a platform where loading and unloading takes place. The

timing of the cycle permits adequate time for loading and unloading oneside while the other is operating high in the air.

When a loading operation on one side is completed, the capsule doors areclosed and the operator activates a lift switch. The lift motors thenoperate to raise the newly loaded wheel and to lower the other, whoseride is being completed. With hydraulic operation, control devices 350,351, etc., control the flow of fluid and also time its starting andstopping appropriately. For electric operation, they act in similarfashion to drive reversible lift motors in appropriate direction and tooperate wheel-rotating motors at appropriate speed, etc. Thus, the newlyloaded wheel 8 or 128 leaves the ground and starts rotating. Thesub-wheels may be and preferably are driven through gearing from themain wheel but they may be driven individually by electric motors, ifdesired. The driving operation rotates the main wheel as it goes to theverticalposition and the sub-wheels may start at the same time or later.These continue rotation after the operation of the lifting cylinders orpistons has ceased. For a prescribed cycle of time, 2 or 3 minutes forexample, rotational operation continues while the other main wheel 7 or127 is being unloaded and reloaded. When the cycle is finished,automatic control mechanism again lowers arm 6 or 126 with wheel 8 or128, with its sub-wheels, etc., into contact with the stanchion 21 or121. The other arm is then raised to its vertical or approximatelyvertical position,

etc.

In case the operator has not succeeded in closing the doors, or in caseof any other abnormality, safety switches and controls preventresumption of operation until the obstacle is cleared. The safetycontrol mechanism is not shown, being obvious to those skilled in the'art.

For hydraulic operation, the arrangement of lift cylinders in pairs sideby side, as in FIG. 15, gives a smooth, stable operation to the liftingand lowering of the respective wheels when both prime movers areoperating, as is preferred. It is quite possible, however, to use onlyone cylinder pulling on one side and another pushing on the other sideto raise and lower the arm and wheel assembly, making use of only one ofthe fluid supply pumps PV for example. In normal operation both mainpumps are used.

In order to provide for emergencies such as an electric power failure,anauxiliary or emergency power unit is provided. Hence, passengers willnot be stranded high in the air in case of such power failure. FIG. 17shows one embodiment for the hydraulic drive in the form of a separatelypowered motor, such as agasoline or diesel engine 400 connected to drivean auxiliary pump PV, The latter is adapted to to supply pressured fluidthrough appropriate valve and line connections to the several cylinders51 and to rotary drive motors MF, and MF: The output of the pump PV, isled through a line 402 to line 404 which connects through suitablevalves to the respective motors and cylinders. The operating fluid isreturned through a line 406 under control of a valve 408 and through arestricted flow throttling device 410, to prevent excessive or dangerousoperating speeds, and then through return line 412 backto the pump PVRegardless of the load on an arm which may be up in the air, throttlingdevice 410 is a further safety limit device in addition to thethrottling devices 301A, 3013, etc., previously explained. Therestricted orifices 301A, etc., at the cylinders may actually beincorporated in the structure of the cylinders themselves, if desired,or at their inlets or outlets, as the case may be. Hence, the rupture ofone or more hydraulic lines does not endanger the lives-or safety ofpassengers inthe equipment, whether high in the air or near the ground.In addition, coil spring shock absorbers 501, 502, are provided aroundpiston rods 59 and serve both to help lift the arms in starting upand-to act as emergency shock absorbers. Sleeves 505 secured to the topof each cylinder 51 contain these springs suitable precompressed andrestrained, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art. The wholeapparatus can be operated, if necessary, at least at low speed, by theauxiliary power equipment.

. Similar or analogous controls and safety devices can be used where thevarious parts are driven by electrical and mechanical means. Thehydraulic drive often can be built with greater safety than geararrangements. Hydraulic power can assure smooth operation withoutbinding with the paired operation of the hydraulic rocking cylindersdescribed above. However, the cable operation of FIG. 1 has advantagesof simplicity and the cables can be attached farther from the pivot tocontrol the arms effectively and without requiring excessive power atthe winch 29. Means for driving the latter in either direction are knownto those skilled in the art.

FIG. 18 shows a modification, i.e. simplified system wherein one arm isreplaced with a counterweight 602.

The single arm 600, in such a first stage unit, is attached to a baserocker 601. The general arrangement is similar to FIG. 2. Main wheel 604on the outer end of arm 600 has sub-wheels 606 each carrying passengercapsules 608. A pair of hydraulic cylinders 610 operates in push-pullrelationship like the arrangement described above to raise and lower thearm 600. Such a unit can be installed with a single arm and expandedlater, when the traffic justifies expansion, by replacing thecounterweight 602 by another arm and wheel assembly, as will be obvious.

H0. 13 shows in detail how the main wheel or spider arms includingelements 29 are detachably secured to the rocker or middle arm part 41by bolts 32 passing through holes 33, 34 formed in flanges 38 and 35 inthe respective parts. A series of triangular reinforcing web elements 37are welded to the'top, bottom and :side plates of arm members 29. Seealso FIGS. 4 and 5. Similarly, the parts shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 18 maybe secured by bolts or by welding. Bolts permit disassembly forshipment, etc. The main arms 25, 26, FIG. 1, or 125, 126, FIG. 2, or600, FIG. 18, may be made up of single piece or two piece welded tubing,of round or'oval cross-section, rather than of rectangular, if desired.Likewise, the arms of the spiders or wheels may be made of tubing ratherthan of welded plate construction. v

The wheels within wheels" arrangement gives a new sensation and thrillto riders that cannot be duplicated in the conventional Ferris wheel.Also, the rocking with respect to each other that when one arm is in alow and substantially horizontal loading position, the other is in ahigh and substantially vertical operating position; power meansoperatively connected between said rigid unitary bifurcate arm structureand said base for causing the pivotal rocking movement of saidbifuracate arm about-said axis; a mainspider rotatably mounted on thefree end of each arm, so that either main spider is rotatablesubstantially in a vertical plane when its arm is in the high positionand rotatable in a horizontal plane when its arm is irithe low position;a plurality of rotatable subspiders, each subspider rotatably mounted ona respective free end of said main spiders, each subspider beingrotatable in a substantially vertical plane duplex arm and wheelstructure increases loading efficiency and gives capacity foraccommodating larger numbers of customers. This is .of great importancewhere space and time are at a premium. Obviously, the arrangements ofthe various parts, the timing of cycles, and the particular driving andcontrol means can be varied to suit any particular requirement orinstallation.

Various modifications and changes may be made in addition to thosealready described, within the purpose and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Amusement apparatus of the character described which comprises, incombination, a rigid unitary bifurcate arm structure having a pair ofjoined divergent main arms pivoted at their juncture to a base on ahorizontal axis for pivotal movement in a substantially vertical plane,the arms being so arranged angularly when its associated arm and mainspider are in the high position and in a horizontal plane when itsassociated arm and main spider are in the low position; passengercapsules carried byand hanging dependent from each of said sub-spidersand means for driving said main spiders and said sub-spidersindependently in rotation in either said high or low position.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the power means causing themain arms to move about their pivot between high and low positionscomprises a pair of hydraulic cylinders operating between the base andeach arm, and including means for supplying hydraulic fluid to one pairof cylinders for pushing and simultaneously supplying hydraulic fluid tosaid other pair for pulling, for coordinated movement of said mainrrantsazr saiargacan? was i power means comprises cable and winch meansanchored to said base and connected to said rigid unitary bifurcate armstructure to move said arm structure between loading and operatingposition and to sustain it in operating position.

1. Amusement apparatus of the character described which comprises, incombination, a rigid unitary bifurcate arm structure having a pair ofjoined divergent main arms pivoted at their juncture to a base on ahorizontal axis for pivotal movement in a substantially vertical plane,the arms being so arranged angularly with respect to each other thatwhen one arm is in a low and substantially horizontal loading position,the other is in a high and substantially vertical operating position;power means operatively connected between said rigid unitary bifurcatearm structure and said base for causing the pivotal rocking movement ofsaid bifuracate arm about said axis; a main spider rotatably mounted onthe free end of each arm, so that either main spider is rotatablesubstantially in a vertical plane when its arm is in the high positionand rotatable in a horizontal plane when its arm is in the low position;a plurality of rotatable subspiders, each subspider rotatably mounted ona respective free end of said main spiders, each subspider beingrotatable in a substantially vertical plane when its associated arm andmain spider are in the high position and in a horizontal plane when itsassociated arm and main spider are in the low position; passengercapsules carried by and hanging dependent from each of said sub-spidersand means for driving said main spiders and said sub-spidersindependently in rotation in either said high or low position. 2.Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the power means causing the mainarms to move about their pivot between high and low positions comprisesa pair of hydraulic cylinders operating between the base and each arm,and including means for supplying hydraulic fluid to one pair ofcylinders for pushing and simultaneously supplying hydraulic fluid tosaid other pair for pulling, for coordinated movement of said mainspiders and sub-spiders between high and low positions.
 3. Combinationaccording to claim 1 in which the power means comprises cable and winchmeans anchored to said base and connected to said rigid unitarybifurcate arm structure to move said arm structure between loading andoperating position and to sustain it in operating position.